A Bush Christmas by Margareta Osborn Page B

a tail curled around tight like a snail’s shell. Claws the size of a witch’s talons were clinging to her doona.
    Jaime flew out the other side of the bed, screaming so much it became one long squeal of terror.
    â€˜ ARGHHHH!’
    She fled down the passage into the kitchen, across the enclosed verandah and right out the back door, still squealing …
    â€¦ only to slam into a hard male chest coming in the opposite direction.
    â€˜ARGHHHH!’ she screamed again.
    â€˜Relax, Princess. It’s only me.’ Stirling McEvoy’s steady voice was like balm. She sank into his arms in relief and stayed there. No way was she moving anywhere with that creature on the loose in the house!
    She could feel her whole body trembling and the man who held her must have felt it too, because he pulled her into his embrace even tighter and held on. It wasglorious. Like she was encased in warmth and muscle. She fit neatly in against his body, completely immersed in his cuddle. It was sublime.
    Slowly her tremors receded and Stirling reached down and pulled up her chin. ‘Want to tell me what that was all about?’
    â€˜A poss–’ She stopped and swallowed. ‘A possum is in my room. Up on my bed!’
    Stirling’s brow sunk low, and then all of a sudden he was laughing!
    She tried to wriggle free from his grasp, but he was having none of it. His arms had her pinned against him. So tight in fact, she felt parts she probably shouldn’t have.
    â€˜I guess he was kinda lonely then.’ Stirling’s voice came in snatches from above her head. ‘It’s a big world out in them there hills for a single possum.’
    Jaime was about to wrench herself free, when all of the sudden she heard her father’s voice as clear as if he was right beside her. You have to learn to laugh at yourself, Princess. Don’t take things that really aren’t important too seriously.
    She pictured the scene in the bedroom. On reflection she was sure the poor possum looked as scared as she was. And it was about time The Cat got his bloody comeuppance. She could still hear the snarls and hisses. From the outside peering in, it must have been pretty funny. She started to giggle and found her chin being lifted in the air again.
    â€˜Oh, you’re laughing? Thank goodness for that. I thought I was going to have a hysterical female on my hands.’
    â€˜As compared to a screaming one?’ said Jaime, laughter bubbling up again. ‘Oh hell, that must have been the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to me yet. Wait till I tell the girls back home in town about it.’
    Abruptly Stirling’s arms let go of her. She stepped back, grabbing his retreating arm for balance. What was that all about? All she’d said was–
    Aha, the girls and home in town. Her discussion with Ryan sprung to mind. Stirling McEvoy had it in for women from town thanks to Fancy-pants Tiffany.
    Jaime shivered. She realised she was dressed in only a barely-there singlet and undies. She crossed her legs, snatched a quick glance at Stirling to see if he’d taken note.
    He’d noticed all right. He was staring at her high-beam nipples with the concentration of a cat stalking a mouse. She quickly wrapped her arms around her body.
    Stirling blinked, shook himself. ‘Guess I better go catch a possum.’ His face had gone a bright shade of red.
    Jaime grinned. Marble Man blushing? Now there was a turn up for the books.
    She flung an arm through the air towards the open screen door. ‘Go ahead. Be my guest.’
    Â 
    It took a sturdy wire possum trap, some grapes for bait and a whole lot of patience but eventually Stirling caught the possum. Though not before the furry intruder had shat all over her bed. Yuck!
    Jaime, meanwhile, had found a navy dressing gown hanging behind the door in the bathroom. Distinctly male, with ‘S’ embroidered on the front panel. Stirling’s first